02

Eight years later

Scarlet's POV

I woke up startled from my sleep with a scream caught in my throat. I was drenched in my own sweat, and my heart was beating so fast I thought it would jump out of my chest. It took me a moment to remember where I was. Sunlight crept in through the window, and I could hear the birds from the tree chirping happily.

The pack was calm since it was still early morning compared to the chaos that ravaged within me.

It was the same nightmare, night after night. This nightmare has haunted me for years now. It always began the same way, empty void, silent and still, until monsters emerged from the darkness, tearing at me to pull me apart, and then, deadly bugs began to crawl all over my skin. By the time I’m awake, I still feel horrible for hours.

I stood up from the bed and walked into the bathroom to throw some water on my face. I leaned over the sink and took deep breaths. 

I gripped the edges of the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Dark circles surrounded my dull eyes, my skin was pale, and my lips pressed into a tight line. 

'Get it together, Scarlet. You have 90 days. Fail this, and you lose the only person that matters.' My subconscious warned me. 

A light knock sounded on my door, bringing me out of my darkness. I reluctantly walked out of the bathroom and opened the door. It was my father.

“You need to get ready. Don’t keep the gracious man waiting,”

I nodded. 

He scrutinized me and shook his head before he walked away. 

I raised an eyebrow, then smirked. 

I knew I looked a mess, but he didn't have to make it so obvious like that. I was a disappointment. I always was.

Once I was done getting ready, I walked out of my room to see him setting the table for breakfast. In silence, I helped him and then sat down to eat with him. 

Neither of us said a word to the other until I was done. 

“Goodbye,” I mumbled. 

He only hummed as I walked out of the house. 

Our relationship wasn't strained; it just didn't exist. 

Eight years ago, the day after I graduated from high school, I left home. My parents were against this. They fought tooth and nail to keep me back. They got the new Alpha involved, but I didn't budge. I'd made up my mind. I was leaving. Only I knew the reason why I left. 

Because that night with Roman left me with something I couldn’t explain—a child I loved more than anything and feared would never be safe here.

For seven years, I didn't look back, and neither did I tell anyone the truth. Not even when my father called and told me my mother had died. I stayed back and mourned her in my way.

That was the root of my father's hatred for me. 

Last year, my life turned upside down. I lost everything: my wolf, my job, my human boyfriend, my child, and I had to leave my town.

With no options and no means of survival, I did the one thing I swore I’d never do.

I came back to our pack alone. 

Without Elara. Without the one reason that I kept breathing.

My father was gracious enough to get me a job at the Pack's school. He wouldn’t have done that if he knew the real reason why I came back, especially that it involved a secret child. 

The Pack’s school principal had demanded to see me this morning for a short interview, and I was on my way to see him.

He was supposed to be in the same building where the Alpha’s office is located, and fortunately enough, the receptionist downstairs told me he was here and not at the school.

I stood in front of the elevator, waiting for it to open for me.

“You look too stunning for a teacher,” someone said from behind me. I lifted my eyes to see it was Jake, my childhood friend and the only person I kept in touch with after I left the pack.

“I'll take that as a compliment,” I replied, without turning around. 

Jake was the Alpha's stepson.

“Hi, sunshine,” he spread his arms open, and I smiled a bit before I hugged him. 

“It's good to see you again, shortcake,” he mumbled. 

I hit him and he released me. 

“I told you to stop calling me that, and you saw me last year,” I told him. 

He shrugged. “It's been a year,” I laughed.

“I guess. So, where are you going so early?” I asked.

“I thought I should accompany the beautiful Miss Scarlet to see the principal. He can be stubborn sometimes, but I believe if I'm there, he might soften a bit.”

I chuckled. 

“Well, thank you for that,” I said with genuine gratitude. “But I can do this by myself,” I dismissed him. 

“I know,” He paused. “What about Elara?” He asked just as the elevator dinged and opened up.

I froze, not just at his words but at the scent that suddenly hit me. It was too familiar not to recognize it. My stomach twisted into knots. How the hell do I still recognize this scent after so many years?

Because it haunted my dreams and daylight for years.

“Stop talking about her,” I snapped before Jake could ask about Elara again. Jake was already inside while I stood fixated on a spot, just staring at him. I couldn’t bring my feet to move.

“What's going on?” Jake asked. For some unknown reason, that kind of brought me out of my shock, and I found myself walking into the elevator. I stood frozen beside Jake while the reason behind my state walked into our line of vision.

He removed his dark shade, and our eyes met. He smirked with a knowing look on his face, and I shivered with hatred, fear, and anxiety. 

I swallowed hard just as reality hit me hard. He remembered me. The man who tossed me aside and disapeerd after taking my innocence was here. 

Roman Lucero, my mate, was back and he had the audacity to smile at me..